"Euh," I gasped sharply.

As the pill went down my throat, I felt the drug begin to take effect. I pressed my hand over my mouth and coughed a few more times before frowning. My pale skin was now stained with red blood. It was a side effect of ingesting too much poison these days.

I was glad that I hadn't prepared myself for the family dinner yet. If I had spat blood any later, the maid would have had to help me into another evening gown and redo my make-up.

I stared at my bloodied hand and felt inclined to smile. My reflection showed a beautiful lady devoid of expression, as if she had not noticed the red mess coagulating around her mouth. The red shone brightly against her lips as if it were badly applied lipstick.

I held out my hand. Emily, who had been standing off to the side, handed me a handkerchief. I used it to wipe the warm blood from my mouth. Emily was stoic as usual and unshaken. She and I were used to these scenes.

Someone knocked at my door.

"Sana," my mother's voice said clearly.

I glanced at Emily. She nodded. She opened the door to reveal a beautiful woman with a face that resembled my own.

My mother, Sara Colonis, was still elegant and breathtaking even in middle age. From any angle, she did not look like a mother who had a sixteen year old daughter, yet alone a twenty year old son, if Asil were still alive.

"I haven't seen you in a while, my little Sana," she said.

"Yes, mother," I said.

A few years ago after I had been invited to my first family dinner, I had moved into the main building and away from my mother. There wasn't even a chance of meeting her by coincidence. My mother walked gracefully towards me until she stopped mid-step. Her eyes grew wide.

"Blood..copy right hot novel pub